The dichotomy of NBA offenses is constantly evolving. Twelve years ago, the triple threat ruled all. Mid-range jump shooting was all the rage, and brute-force post-ups were the go-to half-court option.

Nowadays, all three are obsolete. The slow, methodical nature of those attacks has been replaced by quick-striking actions designed to inject chaos. The contemplative triple threat is now taboo.

In its place, attacking immediately upon catching the ball has become the new norm. No time can be wasted — Brett Brown often talks about his “.5 rule,” where players have half a second to decide to shoot, pass or dribble the ball upon receiving it.

Most often, this principle leads to a series of drives that bend defenses until a breaking point. The Spurs are masters at this craft — every player split-steps and attacks immediately upon receiving the ball.

And in the early goings of this season, Brown seems to be tapping into a further...